diff --git a/tests/ui/test_ui.py b/tests/ui/test_ui.py
index 8d567facce..a97a7168cf 100644
--- a/tests/ui/test_ui.py
+++ b/tests/ui/test_ui.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 
 from zulipterminal.api_types import Composition
 from zulipterminal.config.keys import keys_for_command
-from zulipterminal.ui import LEFT_WIDTH, RIGHT_WIDTH, View
+from zulipterminal.ui import LEFT_WIDTH, RIGHT_WIDTH, TAB_WIDTH, View
 from zulipterminal.urwid_types import urwid_Box
 
 
diff --git a/zulipterminal/ui.py b/zulipterminal/ui.py
index bf4fb7bd64..c48ba029ed 100644
--- a/zulipterminal/ui.py
+++ b/zulipterminal/ui.py
@@ -107,8 +107,8 @@ def set_footer_text(
             text = self.get_random_help()
         else:
             text = text_list
-        self._w.footer.set_text(text)
-        self._w.footer.set_attr_map({None: style})
+        self.frame.footer.set_text(text)
+        self.frame.footer.set_attr_map({None: style})
         self.controller.update_screen()
         if duration is not None:
             assert duration > 0
@@ -142,17 +142,19 @@ def main_window(self) -> Any:
         self.right_panel, self.right_tab = self.right_column_view()
         if self.controller.autohide:
             body = [
-                (LEFT_WIDTH, self.left_panel),
+                (TAB_WIDTH, self.left_tab),
                 ("weight", 10, self.center_panel),
                 (TAB_WIDTH, self.right_tab),
             ]
+            focus_column = 1
         else:
             body = [
                 (LEFT_WIDTH, self.left_panel),
                 ("weight", 10, self.center_panel),
                 (RIGHT_WIDTH, self.right_panel),
             ]
-        self.body = urwid.Columns(body, focus_column=0)
+            focus_column = 0
+        self.body = urwid.Columns(body, focus_column=focus_column)
 
         # NOTE: message_view is None, but middle_column_view is called above
         # and sets it.
@@ -177,24 +179,46 @@ def main_window(self) -> Any:
             ]
         )
 
-        w = urwid.Frame(
+        self.frame = urwid.Frame(
             self.body, title_bar, focus_part="body", footer=self.footer_view()
         )
-        return w
+
+        # Show overlayed left panel on startup in autohide mode
+        self.show_left_panel(visible=True)
+
+        return self.frame
 
     def show_left_panel(self, *, visible: bool) -> None:
         if not self.controller.autohide:
             return
-        option = ("given", LEFT_WIDTH) if visible else ("given", TAB_WIDTH)
-        widget = self.left_panel if visible else self.left_tab
-        self.body.contents[0] = (widget, self.body.options(*option))
+
+        if visible:
+            self.frame.body = urwid.Overlay(
+                urwid.Columns([self.left_panel, (1, urwid.SolidFill("▏"))]),
+                self.body,
+                align="left",
+                width=LEFT_WIDTH,
+                valign="top",
+                height=("relative", 100),
+            )
+        else:
+            self.frame.body = self.body
 
     def show_right_panel(self, *, visible: bool) -> None:
         if not self.controller.autohide:
             return
-        option = ("given", RIGHT_WIDTH) if visible else ("given", TAB_WIDTH)
-        widget = self.right_panel if visible else self.right_tab
-        self.body.contents[2] = (widget, self.body.options(*option))
+
+        if visible:
+            self.frame.body = urwid.Overlay(
+                urwid.Columns([(1, urwid.SolidFill("▕")), self.right_panel]),
+                self.body,
+                align="right",
+                width=LEFT_WIDTH,
+                valign="top",
+                height=("relative", 100),
+            )
+        else:
+            self.frame.body = self.body
 
     def keypress(self, size: urwid_Box, key: str) -> Optional[str]:
         self.model.new_user_input = True